Door-to-door pressure washers after a storm: what to check first

Why door knockers deserve a second look

“Many scammers will show up and claim that your roof needs repair or your driveway needs to be repaved and offer to do the work immediately at what they claim is a great price,” the NC Department of Justice warns in its guidance on home repair fraud. The same pitch works for exterior cleaning: a stranger at the door offering to wash off storm debris before you’ve had time to check them out.

The NC Department of Insurance’s guidance on this pattern covers roof repair. It doesn’t mention pressure washing companies. The tactics it documents are worth watching for from any contractor who knocks after a storm, whatever they’re offering to do. In December 2025, NCDOI and Farm Bureau’s Special Investigations Unit ran a sting at a Wake County home and documented a contractor who had intentionally bent and damaged the shingles to fake storm damage for an insurance claim.

The red flags NCDOI describes

NCDOI’s roofing scam guide lists these warning signs:

• “Always be suspicious of contractors who show up unsolicited, often after storms”
• “If a contractor requests full payment (or large deposits) before any work begins, that should be a red flag”
• Fake inspectors who “find” damage and pressure you into speedy repairs
• High-pressure sales tactics or contracts with unclear language

A department blog post from February 2026 repeats the same warning about going door-to-door after a disaster. On payment, NCDOI is specific: “A small deposit may be standard (10–20%), but most of the payment should come after work is completed to your satisfaction.”

Before paying anyone, NCDOI recommends checking a contractor’s license where one applies, confirming general liability and workers’ compensation insurance, and checking local references and reviews, including the Better Business Bureau and state agencies such as NCDOI. Online reviews on platforms like Google, Angi, and HomeAdvisor can help too.

What NCDOJ adds

The NC Department of Justice’s home repair page covers home repair contractors generally, not roofing specifically, and its advice fits exterior cleaning directly. It warns: “Beware of anyone who comes to your home and offers to fix a problem you were unaware of.” That covers a stranger who says your driveway or siding has damage you hadn’t noticed, not just a roof. NCDOJ also describes upselling: a company that arrives to do a low-cost, advertised job and then finds an expensive, urgent problem that needs fixing right away.

Its advice: get at least three written estimates before deciding, get a written contract listing the work, cost, and completion date, and get any warranty in writing. On payment, it’s direct: “Do not pay for work up front. Inspect the work and make sure you’re satisfied before you pay.” For a one-day wash, NCDOJ’s rule is the simpler one to follow. North Carolina law also gives you three days to cancel a contract you signed at your home.

How to check a company before you pay

A company doing legitimate work can answer a few questions on the spot, in writing if you ask. Our guide on what to ask before you hire covers insurance, estimates, and payment timing in more detail, including how to ask for a certificate of insurance rather than taking a company’s word for it.

Every listing on this site shows a “Verified on” date: the date we last confirmed the listing’s phone number, services, and prices, as described on how we check listings. Whether or not a company is listed here, ask for proof of insurance and a written estimate before you pay.

Where to report a scam

If you think a contractor is trying to defraud you, NCDOJ’s Consumer Protection Division takes complaints at 1-877-5-NO-SCAM, or online, and can tell you whether a company already has complaints against it before you hire.

If someone offers to help you file an insurance claim, or tells you your storm damage should be covered by your policy, report it to NCDOI’s Criminal Investigations Division instead. That’s the unit that handles insurance fraud specifically. NCDOI also warns against signing an Assignment of Benefits document without fully understanding what it means. Reach the division at 919-807-6840 or 888-680-7684 (toll-free within NC), or through its online insurance fraud report form.